SuSe 10.2 - Booting from external USB drive (hd1,0)/message: file not found

[GungHo]

I am new to Linux and decided to take the plunge with an 80GB external USB drive connected to my DELL Latitude D600 notebook, with OpenSuSe 10.2. I have modified my BIOS to enable me to boot from the USB drive.

The only options I selected that were different from the standard installation were:
I. Partition my disk as follows (all except swap and /FAT are Reiser format, and the /home partition is encrypted)...

1./dev/sda1 - /boot (70Mb)
2./dev/sda2 - swap (1GB)
3./dev/sda3 - /FAT (5GB)
4./dev/sda4 Linux LVM
5./dev/system LVM2 system
6./dev/system/home - /home (10GB)
7./dev/system/local - /local (5GB)
8./dev/system/opt - /opt (5GB)
9./dev/system/root - / (10GB)
10./dev/system/srv - /srv (5GB)
11./dev/system/tmp - /tmp (2GB)
12./dev/system/user - /usr (10GB)
13./dev/system/var - /var (5GB)

I opted for a LVM partition since I was not sure what was the best partitioning scheme to follow, so with the partitions configured as LVM I “should” be able to adjust the size on the fly. I also encrypted my /home partition.

II. With regards to the location of the Boot Loader, I selected the options to “Boot From Boot Partition” as well as “Boot From Master Boot Record”. Finally I selected “Boot Loader Options” and selected “Set active flag in Partition Table for Boot Partition” and “Write generic Boot Code to MBR”.

I was able to complete the installation by booting from the Installation CD, selecting the Installation option, and after selecting my Location & agreeing to the license, select “Other Options” and choosing the option to “Boot Installed System”. Everything ran well, I was prompted for the password to my encrypted /home partition, and finally I arrived at the SuSe signon screen.

I was able to logon on and I choose to edit the Kernel Text file, using “/etc/sysconfig Editor” in the YaST Control Centre, to allow the loading of the USB drivers at boot time. My INTRD_MODULES entry now looks like...
“processor thermal piix fan reiserfs ehci-hcd ohci-hcd uhci-hcd usb-storage sd_mod dm_mod edd”

I shutdown Linux. I restart my computer and during the BIOS check I selected my USB drive to boot from. Then the message "GRUB Loading stage 2..." and I'm subsequently presented with the error...

“Booting from external USB drive (hd1,0)/message: file not found”

I can boot using the Installation CD and the steps described above, but there must be something I'm missing that is preventing me from booting from my USB drive and I hope someone can help.

One last bit of information which might help; here are the entries in the following files...

/boot/grub/device.map
(hd1) /dev/sda
(hd0) /dev/hda

/boot/grub/menu.lst
# Modified by YaST2. Last modification on Thu Jan 11 19:24:57 GMT 2007
default 0
timeout 8
##YaST - generic_mbr
gfxmenu (hd1,0)/message
##YaST - activate

###Don't change this comment - YaST2 identifier: Original name: linux###
title openSUSE 10.2
root (hd1,0)
kernel /vmlinuz-2.6.18.2-34-default root=/dev/system/root vga=0x314 resume=/dev/sda2 splash=silent showopts
initrd /initrd-2.6.18.2-34-default

###Don't change this comment - YaST2 identifier: Original name: windows###
title Windows
rootnoverify (hd0,0)
chainloader (hd0,1)+1

###Don't change this comment - YaST2 identifier: Original name: failsafe###
title Failsafe -- openSUSE 10.2
root (hd1,0)
kernel /vmlinuz-2.6.18.2-34-default root=/dev/system/root vga=normal showopts ide=nodma apm=off acpi=off noresume nosmp noapic maxcpus=0 edd=off 3
initrd /initrd-2.6.18.2-34-default

/etc/grub.conf
setup --stage2=/boot/grub/stage2 (hd1,0) (hd1,0)
quit

It appears that the installation was successful, except I cannot figure out what I omitted doing to allow me to boot from the USB drive. Please someone, save me from myself... (I haven't slept in the past 3-nights and tonight will make it 4)

Thanks in advance

[Xaleandr]

Have a look at

http://www.gnu.org/software/grub/man...l#Installation

and especially

http://www.gnu.org/software/grub/man...-natively.html

[devils casper]

hi GungHo !!

Welcome to the LinuxForums !

GRUB is looking for 'stage 2' at wrong location. you created separate /boot partition but menu.lst has not any reference of it. edit /boot/grub/menu.lst

# Modified by YaST2. Last modification on Thu Jan 11 19:24:57 GMT 2007
default 0
timeout 8
##YaST - generic_mbr
gfxmenu (hd1,0)/boot/message
##YaST - activate

###Don't change this comment - YaST2 identifier: Original name: linux###
title openSUSE 10.2
root (hd1,0)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.18.2-34-default root=/dev/system/root vga=0x314 resume=/dev/sda2 splash=silent showopts
initrd /boot/initrd-2.6.18.2-34-default

change other parts of menu.lst too. in case, it doesn't work, post the listing of /boot and /boot/grub folders.





Casper

[GungHo]

Thanks devils_casper; both for the information and the welcome.

I have tried the changes you suggested, however it produces the same error message
“Booting from external USB drive (hd1,0)/boot/message: file not found”

Below is a copy of my modified /boot/grub/menu.lst
# Modified by YaST2. Last modification on Fri Jan 12 11:59:15 GMT 2007
default 0
timeout 8
##YaST - generic_mbr
gfxmenu (hd1,0)/boot/message
##YaST - activate

###Don't change this comment - YaST2 identifier: Original name: linux###
title openSUSE 10.2
root (hd1,0)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.18.2-34-default root=/dev/system/root vga=0x314 resume=/dev/sda2 splash=silent showopts
initrd /boot/initrd-2.6.18.2-34-default

###Don't change this comment - YaST2 identifier: Original name: windows###
title Windows
rootnoverify (hd0,0)
chainloader (hd0,1)+1

###Don't change this comment - YaST2 identifier: Original name: failsafe###
title Failsafe -- openSUSE 10.2
root (hd1,0)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.18.2-34-default root=/dev/system/root vga=normal showopts ide=nodma apm=off acpi=off noresume nosmp noapic maxcpus=0 edd=off 3
initrd /boot/initrd-2.6.18.2-34-default


Below is a listing of my /boot folder
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 744294 Nov 27 18:33 System.map-2.6.18.2-34-default
-rw------- 1 root root 512 Jan 11 17:55 backup_mbr
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 1 Jan 11 17:40 boot -> .
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 72710 Nov 27 18:38 config-2.6.18.2-34-default
drwxr-xr-x 2 root root 1024 Jan 12 11:44 grub
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 26 Jan 11 18:28 initrd -> initrd-2.6.18.2-34-default
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 3320873 Jan 11 18:28 initrd-2.6.18.2-34-default
drwx------ 2 root root 12288 Jan 11 17:36 lost+found
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 379904 Jan 12 11:44 message
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 86990 Nov 27 18:40 symsets-2.6.18.2-34-default.tar.gz
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 344102 Nov 27 18:40 symtypes-2.6.18.2-34-default.gz
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 100600 Nov 27 18:39 symvers-2.6.18.2-34-default.gz
-rwxr-xr-x 1 root root 1761938 Nov 27 18:37 vmlinux-2.6.18.2-34-default.gz
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 27 Jan 11 17:45 vmlinuz -> vmlinuz-2.6.18.2-34-default
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1474998 Nov 27 18:33 vmlinuz-2.6.18.2-34-default

Finally, here's a listing of my /boot/grub folder
-rw------- 1 root root 30 Jan 12 11:44 device.map
-rw------- 1 root root 30 Jan 12 11:22 device.map.old
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 7552 Nov 25 18:56 e2fs_stage1_5
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 7424 Nov 25 18:56 fat_stage1_5
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 6688 Nov 25 18:56 ffs_stage1_5
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 6688 Nov 25 18:56 iso9660_stage1_5
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 8160 Nov 25 18:56 jfs_stage1_5
-rw------- 1 root root 898 Jan 12 11:44 menu.lst
-rw------- 1 root root 883 Jan 12 11:22 menu.lst.old
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 6848 Nov 25 18:56 minix_stage1_5
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 9216 Nov 25 18:56 reiserfs_stage1_5
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 512 Nov 25 18:56 stage1
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 104042 Jan 12 11:44 stage2
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 7040 Nov 25 18:56 ufs2_stage1_5
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 6240 Nov 25 18:56 vstafs_stage1_5
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 8904 Nov 25 18:56 xfs_stage1_5


Thanks again for all your help

hi GungHo !!

Welcome to the LinuxForums !

GRUB is looking for 'stage 2' at wrong location. you created separate /boot partition but menu.lst has not any reference of it. edit /boot/grub/menu.lst

# Modified by YaST2. Last modification on Thu Jan 11 19:24:57 GMT 2007
default 0
timeout 8
##YaST - generic_mbr
gfxmenu (hd1,0)/boot/message
##YaST - activate

###Don't change this comment - YaST2 identifier: Original name: linux###
title openSUSE 10.2
root (hd1,0)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.18.2-34-default root=/dev/system/root vga=0x314 resume=/dev/sda2 splash=silent showopts
initrd /boot/initrd-2.6.18.2-34-default

change other parts of menu.lst too. in case, it doesn't work, post the listing of /boot and /boot/grub folders.





Casper

[devils casper]

something wrong in /boot/grub/device.map file. post its contents.







Casper

[GungHo]

Thanks Xaleandr

I have learnt a bit more about GRUB, but unfortunately it did not resolve my problem.

I logged in as root and ran the following command:
linux-freecom:~ # grub-install --root-directory=/boot /dev/sda
Installation finished. No error reported.
This is the contents of the device map /boot/boot/grub/device.map.
Check if this is correct or not. If any of the lines is incorrect,
fix it and re-run the script `grub-install'.

(hd1) /dev/sda
(hd0) /dev/hda

I then shutdown and when I restarted I got the following message
GRUB Loading stage 1.5.

GRUB Loading, please wait...
(hd1,0)/boot/message: file not found

I was then presented with a text GNU GRUB menu with the following options:
openSUSE 10.2
Windows
Failsafe -- openSUSE 10.2

Neither of these options allowed me to boot from my USB drive.

I feel I'm close to the answer and it may just be one niggling thing missing.

Thanks again

Have a look at

http://www.gnu.org/software/grub/man...l#Installation

and especially

http://www.gnu.org/software/grub/man...-natively.html

[devils casper]

contents of device.map file are correct. revert back to original menu.lst file. remove /boot word. check if it works now.






Casper

[GungHo]

Hi Casper,
I removed /boot and still the same error message...
GRUB Loading stage 1.5.

GRUB Loading, please wait...
(hd1,0)/message: file not found

I previously reinstalled 5-times, changing partitions and boot options, and I would hate to reinstall but I would be willing if it would fix the problem.

contents of device.map file are correct. revert back to original menu.lst file. remove /boot word. check if it works now.






Casper

[devils casper]

does GRUB menu appear after unplugging External disk?







Casper

[GungHo]

No, windows boots normally from the internal HDD

does GRUB menu appear after unplugging External disk?







Casper